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Raw materials

Import raw wool

Woollen mills import fine wool mainly from Australia and New Zealand; BCD is 2.5% and animal-product checks apply.

Free to importHS 5101
Basic customs duty
2.5%
2.5%
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
Nil
Nil (see note)
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 231 mn
from 41 countries

The CBIC Customs Tariff shows 2.5% for all lines of heading 5101; no lower rate for 5101 appears in Notification 45/2025-Customs. Raw wool of 5101 is not listed in the 5% or 18% schedules of Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate); it falls under the IGST exemption list — confirm the exact entry with your broker or on ICEGATE. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (import tariff, chapter PDFs) ↗

What is imported

Indian sheep give mostly coarse wool, so woollen spinners, carpet makers and worsted mills import fine merino and other wool. India imported about US$ 231 million of raw wool in 2025-26, led by Australia and New Zealand (TradeStat). Most of it arrives greasy or scoured, in pressed bales.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 1. As an animal product it may need a Sanitary Import Permit and animal quarantine clearance — check before you order.

Licences and registrations you need

  • Department of Animal Husbandry and DairyingCheck whether your type of wool needs a Sanitary Import Permit (SIP) under the livestock products import rules; if it does, get it before shipment. Animal Quarantine and Certification Services inspect at the port.dahd.gov.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Veterinary health certificate from the exporting country, matching the SIP conditions.
  • Description of the wool (greasy, scoured, carbonised; micron) so it is classified correctly.
  • Weight and yield against the test certificate.

Practical tips

  • Buy against an independent wool test certificate showing micron, yield and vegetable matter.
  • Start with one container from an established exporter before signing a season contract.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Landing wool without the veterinary certificate the permit asks for — the cargo is held at the port.
  • Paying for clean weight but receiving low-yield greasy wool.
Sources (6)
  1. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (import tariff, chapter PDFs)
  2. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs dated 24.10.2025 (effective BCD rates, in force 1.11.2025)
  3. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), in force 22.09.2025
  4. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying — import of livestock products
  5. DGFT — ITC(HS) import policy (Schedule 1)
  6. Commerce Ministry TradeStat — commodity-wise imports by country (FY 2025-26)

Import data

Where India buys raw wool

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 231 mn
Change from 2024-25
+11.9%
Supplying countries
41
Biggest supplier
Australia
42%
Australia: US$ 97.8 mnNew Zealand: US$ 47 mnChina: US$ 14 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 9.4 mnSouth Africa: US$ 8.3 mnTürkiye: US$ 4.7 mnPeru: US$ 2.9 mnEgypt: US$ 2.4 mnItaly: US$ 2.3 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 2.1 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.6 mnArgentina: US$ 1.6 mnKenya: US$ 1.6 mnAustralia: US$ 97.8 mnAustraliaNew Zealand: US$ 47 mnChina: US$ 14 mnChinaUnited Kingdom: US$ 9.4 mnUnited KingdomSouth Africa: US$ 8.3 mnSouth AfricaTürkiye: US$ 4.7 mnTürkiyePeru: US$ 2.9 mnPeruEgypt: US$ 2.4 mnItaly: US$ 2.3 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 2.1 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.6 mnArgentina: US$ 1.6 mnKenya: US$ 1.6 mnIndia
Where India imports raw wool from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 134 mn1342020-212021-22: US$ 223 mn2232021-222022-23: US$ 232 mn2322022-232023-24: US$ 217 mn2172023-242024-25: US$ 206 mn2062024-252025-26: US$ 231 mn2312025-26
India’s raw wool imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1AustraliaUS$ 97.8 mn+11.2%
2New ZealandUS$ 47 mn-0.7%
3SyriaUS$ 19.4 mn+85.9%
4ChinaUS$ 14 mn+19.9%
5United KingdomUS$ 9.4 mn+16.8%
6South AfricaUS$ 8.3 mn+71.5%
7TürkiyeUS$ 4.7 mn-56%
8UruguayUS$ 4.6 mn+26.1%
9PeruUS$ 2.9 mn+27.6%
10EgyptUS$ 2.4 mn+2.6%
11ItalyUS$ 2.3 mn-4.1%
12Saudi ArabiaUS$ 2.1 mn+65.1%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. SyriaUS$ 10.5 mn → US$ 19.4 mn+85.9%
  2. South AfricaUS$ 4.8 mn → US$ 8.3 mn+71.5%
  3. PeruUS$ 2.3 mn → US$ 2.9 mn+27.6%
  4. UruguayUS$ 3.7 mn → US$ 4.6 mn+26.1%
  5. ChinaUS$ 11.7 mn → US$ 14 mn+19.9%
  6. United KingdomUS$ 8 mn → US$ 9.4 mn+16.8%

Shrinking sources

  1. TürkiyeUS$ 10.7 mn → US$ 4.7 mn-56%

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Shorn wool,greasy,including fleece-washed5101 11 00US$ 110 mn+19.4%15,315 tonnesUS$ 7.17 per kg
Other degresd wool not crbnsd nor crded/cmbd5101 29 00US$ 72.3 mn+14.2%64,958 tonnesUS$ 1.11 per kg
Degresd shorn wool not crbnsd nr crded/cmbd5101 21 00US$ 32.3 mn+17.2%10,564 tonnesUS$ 3.06 per kg
Other wool,greasy,including fleece-washed5101 19 00US$ 15.3 mn-30.7%16,240 tonnesUS$ 0.94 per kg
Carbonised wool not carded/combed5101 30 00US$ 950k-21.5%166 tonnesUS$ 5.72 per kg

Source: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

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